Judgement Test Question 35 – Two colleagues blame each other for a failed handover
Read the scenario and rate every action independently. Several actions can receive the same rating.
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Scenario
Two experienced colleagues, Zoe and Mark, share responsibility for a weekly handover. Important actions were missed last week. Zoe says Mark sent the information too late, while Mark says Zoe never confirmed what she needed. Their messages have become abrupt and each has started copying you into routine emails to prove the other is at fault. Both people are valuable to the team and must keep working together. You have a record of the missed actions and can see that the handover expectation was never clearly agreed.
Rate the actions
For each action, choose Counterproductive, Ineffective, Fairly Effective or Effective.
Action A
Ask both colleagues to provide written accounts, then decide which person was mainly responsible for the failure.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action B
Separate their work so they no longer need to complete a joint handover.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action C
Speak to each colleague privately first to understand their concerns before arranging a joint discussion.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action D
Bring Zoe and Mark together to review the specific handover. Agree a shared expectation for timing and content, then check after the next cycle that it is working.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Click to reveal the answer
- Action A: Ineffective
- Action B: Counterproductive
- Action C: Fairly Effective
- Action D: Effective
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